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Datia | |
|---|---|
City | |
 Rajgarh Fort | |
  Datia  Datia | |
| Coordinates: 25°40′N 78°28′E / 25.67°N 78.47°E | |
| Country |  India |
| State | Madhya Pradesh |
| Division | Gwalior |
| District | Datia |
| Region | Gwalior Chambal |
| Founded by | Bundela Rulers |
| Elevation | 420 m (1,380 ft) |
| Population (2011) | |
| • Total | 100,466 |
| • Density | 292/km2 (760/sq mi) |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Hindi Bundeli |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| PIN | 475661 |
| Telephone code | 917522 |
| ISO 3166 code | MP-IN |
| Vehicle registration | MP-32 |
| Website | datia |
Datia, also known as Daityavakra is the district headquarter of the Datia District in north central Madhya Pradesh, a state of Central India. It is an ancient town, mentioned in the Mahabharata ruled by King Dantavakra. The city is 71 km from Gwalior, 325 km south of New Delhi and 344 km north of Bhopal. About 18 km from Datia is Sonagiri, a sacred Jaina hill. Datia is also about 52 km from Orchha. The nearest airport is at Gwalior. It was formerly the seat of the eponymous princely state in the British Raj. Datia is situated near Gwalior and on the border with Uttar Pradesh.
The old town is encircled by a stone wall and is home to gorgeous buildings and gardens. The 17th-century palace of Vir Singh Deo is a notable example of the Hindu architecture of North India. The town serves as a trading center for grains and cotton products. Handloom weaving is an important industry. Datia has several important landmarks and is famous for the seven-story up and seven-story down palace built by Raja Vir Singh Deo in 1614. The town is also a thriving pilgrimage spot for religious devotees. There are many temples, including the Sidhapeeth of Pitambara Devi, Buglamukhi Devi Temple, and Gupteshwar Temple. Pitambara Peeth is a famous Shakta pitha located at the entrance of Datia. This pilgrimage spot is located about 1 km from Datia Bus Station and 3 km from Datia Railway Station on the Delhi-Chennai main line and features Buglamukhi Devi Temple. The Dhumavati Main Temple, established by Golokwasi Swamiji Maharaj and the Vankhandeshwar temple, a Mahabharat period temple of Shiva are the main attraction of the place. It was ruled by Bundela Rajputs until 1947.